FOREference

Projectors

4K vs 1080p for a golf simulator

Resolution matters more on big screens viewed from 10 ft — and less once a 4:3 screen crops the frame.

By FOREference Editorial · Updated 30 Sep 2026

Pixels that land on the screen

ProjectorPixels on a 4:3 screenOn a 1:1 screen
1080p (1920 × 1080)1,440 × 1,0801,080 × 1,080
WUXGA (1920 × 1200)1,600 × 1,2001,200 × 1,200
4K UHD (3840 × 2160)2,880 × 2,1602,160 × 2,160
Practical noteMany DLP projectors listed as 4K UHD create the image by shifting pixels on a lower-resolution chip. Check the maker's specification if native 4K matters.

The PC has to keep up

Rendering simulator courses at 4K needs a stronger graphics card than 1080p. See PC requirements.

Products mentioned

AK700ST
Short-throw projector · 4K UHD

BenQ AK700ST

4,000 lm · 4K UHD · throw 0.69–0.83

BenQ$2,899
ZK431ST-B
Short-throw projector · 4K UHD

Optoma ZK431ST-B

4,100 lm · 4K UHD · throw 0.496

Optoma$1,799

Figures marked as FOREference calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work